In a surprising revelation, the showrunner of the iconic animated series The Simpsons has stated that the show will never conclude with a traditional series finale. Matt Selman, who oversees the production of the long-running programme, explained that if the show were to end, it would simply finish with a regular episode, devoid of any dramatic wrap-up or sentimental farewells.
No Grand Finale for Springfield's Favourite Family
The Simpsons, which first premiered in 1989 and is currently in its 37th season with over 800 episodes, has long been the subject of speculation regarding its eventual conclusion. Fans have often predicted an imminent end, especially with rumours of a forthcoming film sequel to the 2007 movie. However, Selman has now shed light on what the show's ending would truly look like, dismissing the idea of a conventional finale.
A Parody of Finale Concepts
Selman revealed that approximately a year and a half ago, the show produced an episode that parodied the concept of a series finale. "We jammed every possible series finale idea into one show," he said, "so that was sort of my way of saying we're never going to do a series finale." He elaborated to TheWrap that this episode mocked all notions of wrapping up storylines or providing closure, emphasising that The Simpsons is designed to reset each week, much like the film Groundhog Day, but without the characters' awareness.
Selman asserted, "If the show ever did end, there's no finale; it would just be a regular episode that has the family in it. Probably a little Easter egg here and there, but no 'I'm going to miss this place.'" This approach aligns with the show's episodic nature, where characters and situations typically return to a status quo by the end of each installment, ensuring continuity without permanent change.
Character Deaths Despite Reset Premise
Interestingly, despite Selman's comments about the show's resetting format, The Simpsons has not shied away from killing off characters in recent years. In November, the series bid farewell to Alice Glick, the church organist in Springfield, who died during a service led by Reverend Lovejoy. Alice Glick was introduced in the 1991 episode "Three Men and a Comic Book" and was originally voiced by Cloris Leachman, with Tress MacNeille taking over after Leachman's death in 2021.
Executive producer Tim Long confirmed Glick's passing, stating, "In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep, she's dead as a doornail." This follows the death of Larry the Barfly the previous year, a character who had been a staple since season 10. Long addressed viewer outcry by explaining that Larry's death was intended to highlight the dignity and worth of even peripheral figures in our lives.
Future of The Simpsons
As The Simpsons continues to entertain audiences worldwide, Selman's remarks suggest that the show may persist indefinitely without a definitive endpoint. The potential sequel film could serve as a significant milestone, but it is unlikely to function as a swansong in the traditional sense. Instead, fans can expect the series to maintain its familiar rhythm, with occasional character departures but no overarching conclusion.
The enduring appeal of The Simpsons lies in its ability to evolve while staying true to its core premise. With no plans for a grand finale, the residents of Springfield are set to keep audiences laughing for the foreseeable future, one regular episode at a time.
